Rail-joint.



J. MARTIN.

RAIL JOINT. HPLIOATIOI FILED MAY 6, 190a.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

. ing drawing. u I I I my invention aims to provide a novel con- UNXTED'sTATEs JOHN MARTIN, or BELLE VERNON, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent. I i

Patented. Deng-8, 1908 Application filed May 6, 1908. Serial No.431,176.

This invention relates to rail joints, and

nection for the confronting ends of rails that will canbe safely usedwithout employing splice bars, nuts and bolts as a fastening medium. Tothis end, I have devised a rail joint that pprmit of the confrontingends oftwo rails eing easily and quickly connected together, the form ofthe connection preventmg glateral displacement-of one rail with re"-lation to the other. In connection with the rail joint, I have providedpositive and reliable means for at all times maintaining ametal-to-metal connection between the con-- fronting ends of two rails,whereby the rails can be used as electrical conductors for a current ofelectricity, this type of joint being essential in railway si nalingwhere track circuitsform a part of t io signal system of a railroad. 1

My invention will be further considered hereinafterand reference willnow be had to the drawing forming a part 'of this application, whereinFigure 1- is a perspective view of the con fronting ends of two railsconstructed in accordance with 'my invention, and Fig. 2 is an elevationof the same, partly broken away and partly in section.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 and 2. desi nate rails havingintermediate portions sir'r ri ar in cross section to the present typeof rail. The rail 1 isreinforced by an enlargement 3 located at the endof said rail, and extending outwardly'from'theend of said rail is a hookshaped tongue '4 corresponding in width to the web 5 of said rail'g-gThelower edge of the tongue 4-is in a plane horizontal with the bottom sideor base ofla'rail 'hile the top edge thereof has stepe $3 saidinclinations being forme fralletvtitb the rail 1 with an angularly'disposed Socket 8, said socket being formed at right angles tothejinnermost inclined surface of said tongue. In the socket 8 islocated acoiled spring 9, the object of which will presently appear.

The rail 2 is reinforced by enlargements 10, saidenlargements increasingthe width of the web portion 11 of said rail at one end thereof androviding a sufficient clearance of material or the formation of avertical groove 12 rail to the head or tread thereof, the groovecorresponding in width and length to that of the tongue 4. The groove 12corresponds in area to the tongue 4, and said groove has its roof or thematerial forming the top of the groove shaped to provide .a dependingroection or-shoulder 13 adapted 'to inter ock .with the tongue 4.

When'the rails 1 and 2 are to be connected,

over the tongue 4, although said rail 2 can be moved longitudinallytowards the rail 1, in which case the shoulder 13 will ride up theinclined edge of the tongue until it dro s beposition. With the rail 2resting on the tongue 4, the spring 9 is under tension, and irrespectiveof the vibrations of the rails 1 and 2, this spring maintains -apositive oontact between said rails having a current of electricity. a

While in the drawings forming a art of this application there isillustrated t e preferred form of .construction embodying the 1invention, it is to be-understood that the elements therein may bevaried or changed without departing from the spirit of the in vention.

Having now described my invention What I claim as new, is

The combination with rails, one of said rails having an enlargement atthe end thereof, a tongue carried by the end ofsaid rail and.corresponding in width to the web of said mil, said tongue havingitsupper edge pro- 'vid-ed'with inclinations forming a projection,

extending from the bottom or base of said projection or shoulder 7 ofthe' hind the shoulder 7, when the rails wil be in i one anotherto'produoe aprojection or shoulder'7. The tongue 4 is provlded adjacentto the end of the rail 2 is placed downwardly "groove corresponding inwidth and area to said tongue having a socket formed therein sponding tothe inclinations and projection adjacent to said rail, a coils ringmounted in of said tongue. I 10 said socket, the other of said railshaving the In testimony whereof I aflix my signature web thereofenlarged and provided with a in the presence of two Witnesses.

' JOHN 'll IA'RTIN said tongue, said groove havin the material\Vitnesses: i 5 forming the top thereof shaped to provide a LEIGHTTYSTEEN, depending projection and inclinations corre- \VALTER WORRELL.

